Written by

Chris Woodyard

USA TODAY

Early in the gestation of the original Mustang, Ford designers also considered a number of two-seater studies. / Ford

In 1962, the design team, led by Gene Bordinat, worked on several iterations of another design called Allegro. While the production 1965 Mustang was a very different car in almost every visual detail from Allegro, the design study established the basic proportions that would define most Mustangs for the next five decades. The notchback coupe had the same long-hood, short-deck layout with a compact greenhouse that would roll out of the Rouge factory two years later. / Ford

Avventura moved from sketch to physical design model. Originally shown internally as Avanti, the name was eventually changed to Allegro, likely because Studebaker had introduced its own production Avanti coupe around the same time. / Ford

A Ford Mustang station wagon? Maybe not such a good idea. But someone thought so in 1966. / Ford

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With a new Mustang on the way timed to the 50th anniversary of the 1964 model that started it all, Ford has dug into its archives to show off the models that never quite made the grade.

Some are sublime, some downright cool ó and others, like the four-door Mustang concept, are hideous. Taken as a whole, they show how Ford has been willing to take risks over the years on its original pony car. Some, like the original, worked. Others, like the Mustang II of the 1970s, should have been hauled off to the glue factory.

The all-new 2015 Ford Mustang is expected to take styling in a new direction, away from the last two generations that have largely aped the look of the best, early years of the model. Itís yet to be seen whether purists are willing to accept the change or will defect in droves.